---
title: "Mens Rea"
type: Legal Term
source: https://casebriefly.com/legal-terms/mens-rea
---

# Mens Rea

Mens rea ("guilty mind") refers to the mental state required for criminal liability. The Model Penal Code identifies four levels of culpability in descending order of blameworthiness: purposely (conscious objective to engage in the conduct or cause the result), knowingly (awareness that conduct is of a certain nature or practically certain to cause the result), recklessly (conscious disregard of a substantial and unjustifiable risk), and negligently (failure to perceive a substantial and unjustifiable risk). The required mens rea varies by offense and must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

## Related Terms

- actus-reus
- murder
- manslaughter

## Related Cases

- regina-v-cunningham
- people-v-conley
- jewell-v-united-states
- united-states-v-balint

## Pronunciation

MENZ REE-ah

## Example

A defendant fires a gun into a crowd. If the defendant's purpose was to kill, this satisfies the highest mens rea. If the defendant knew death was practically certain, this is knowledge.

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Source: [Mens Rea — CaseBriefly](https://casebriefly.com/legal-terms/mens-rea)